May 12, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals News Release
CHICAGO, Illinois Utah Royals (1-7-1, 4 pts, 14th NWSL) succumbed to another away defeat, its sixth defeat altogether of the season, and a seventh straight game without a win, in the club’s maiden NWSL campaign in a 3-1 loss on the road against Chicago Red Stars (5-3-1, 15 pts, 5th NWSL) at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday, May 12th, 2024.
Things in the game kicked off quickly with Chicago having the ball in the back of the net after barely a minute played when a slipped ball through the heart of the Royals defense found Penelope Hocking who slotted the ball past Mandy Haught and in. However, the forward was judged to have wandered offside during the buildup and the goal did not stand.
The Royals gradually grew into the slightly stronger of both teams as the game went on, dominating possession and creating chances early on. URFC’s first big chance in the game came around the 11th minute when a cross from the right flank found Ally Sentnor who controlled the ball before laying it on the path for Mikayla Cluff to take a shot, but the midfielder’s low, placed effort was saved by Alyssa Naeher in goal for Chicago.
URFC immediately got another chance about a minute later. Striker Hannah Betfort capitalized on a poor pass by Chicago deep in the hosts’ half and embarked on a mini drive forward before unleashing a fierce strike only to see her effort well held by Naeher.
Despite its early dominance in the game, the Royals struggled to capitalize on its chances and was made to pay the price for its profligacy with a Chicago goal in the 23rd minute slightly against the run of play. A well worked Chicago attacking sequence found striker, Mallory Swanson with time and space down the left flank to deliver an inch perfect cross which was met by an unmarked Jenna Bike in the Royals penalty area who equally had time and space to cushion a header past a stunned Haught and into the back of the net to establish a lead for the hosts.
Things got more difficult for the Royals when rookie Olivia Griffits was forced to come off in the 26th minute after suffering an injury.
Things eventually did go from bad to worse for URFC when Chicago were awarded a penalty two minutes later after Lauren Flynn was penalized for a late tackle on Bike in the penalty area, the team’s seventh penalty concession in its last 8 NWSL games. Up stepped Mallory Swanson who sent Haught the wrong way with a low and hard finish…